Willis church repairs hurricane-damaged home

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, June 21, 2007

Members of First United Methodist Church in Willis rebuilt the home of Port Arthur resident Delores Gunner during a Rita Recovery mission trip May 21-24.

"It's a way to offer hope to folks," Pastor Jeff Gantz said. "We basically gutted the entire house. The hurricane blew the roof off and flooded the house. We basically put this family back in their house."

The group tore out and replaced the ceiling, walls and flooring in the three-bedroom home, Gantz said.

After Hurricane Rita made Gunner's home "unlivable," according to Gantz, she moved from relative to relative for a place to stay, he said. Adding insult to injury was the fact Gunner did not have insurance.

"It was truly a blessing," Gunner said about the repairs. "I had just about given up hope that anything would be done, and then they came."

The United Methodist Committee on Relief, which assesses damage and reports where there is a need, put the church in contact with the Gunner.

"I think so many of us want to help when we see such a huge need," said church member Jan Dial. "The devastation we all saw after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita just made me want to wrap my arms around a lot of people, and this was a way of doing that."

The church repaired two homes in 2006 and has no plans to stop.

Gunner visited the work site twice and was very appreciative of the team's help, according to Bill Compton, church member.

"When you do that to somebody, it's an incredible feeling," Compton said. "We're thinking of going back because there's just so much to do over there."